Editor New CEO of Australian Horse Groups

The editor of Sydney, Australia's oldest continuously published daily newspaper has resigned to assume the position of chief executive officer at Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse Marketing.

According to a release from the two organizations, Tom Reilly, editor of the Sydney Morning Herald, "has a deep understanding of Australian politics and business which will enable him to advocate strongly on behalf of breeders."

"I feel that Tom has the capacity to deliver a sound outcome for all breeders of Thoroughbreds in this very competitive environment," TBA chairman Basil Nolan said in a statement.

"He has practical horse experience and knows the overseas markets and industry participants," said Aushorse chairman Antony Thompson, adding that the organizations received "a large number of outstanding candidates" to consider.

"The Australian breeding industry is recognized as a global leader and I'm keen to continue to develop the Aushorse brand overseas and further increase the international investment in our bloodstock while ensuring we continue to support and cultivate domestic ownership and Australia's love and passion for the Thoroughbred," Reilly, who begins his new position in mid-September, said in a statement.

According to the release, upon graduation from college, Reilly spent three years working for trainers Luca Cumani and Mick Channon in the United Kingdom, at Coolmore Stud's Ashford division in Central Kentucky, and trainer Christophe Clement in New York.

Reilly, who has owned shares in horses in Australia and England, made his first foray to Australia in 2007 for the prestigious Melbourne Cup (Aus-I) and within two months of the visit relocated there permanently.

Yet another massive setback to the breeding program in Australia' New South Wales occurred over the weekend, with another of the shuttlers locked up in quarantine testing positive for equine influenza.